Text Search:

Text Options:

Tenth Day
-
Novel III

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
001
]
Mitridanes, holding Nathan in despite by reason of his
courtesy, journeys with intent to kill him, and falling
in with him unawares, is advised by him how to
compass his end. Following his advice, he finds him
in a copse, and recognizing him, is shame-stricken,
and becomes his friend.

[Voice:
author
]

[
002
]
Verily like to a miracle seemed it to all to hear that a prelate
had
done aught with magnificence; but when the ladies had made an end
of their remarks, the king bade Filostrato follow suit; and forthwith
Filostrato began:

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
003
]
Noble ladies, great was the magnificence of the
King of Spain, and perchance a thing unheard-of the magnificence
of the Abbot of Cluny; but peradventure 'twill seem not a whit less
marvellous to you to hear of one who, to shew liberality towards
another, did resolve artfully to yield to him his blood, nay, his very
life, for which the other thirsted, and had so done, had the other
chosen to take them, as I shall shew you in a little story.

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
004
]
Beyond all question, if we may believe the report of certain
Genoese, and other folk that have been in those regions, there dwelt
of yore in the parts of Cathay one Nathan, a man of noble lineage
and incomparable wealth. [
005
]
Who, having a seat hard by a road, by
which whoso would travel from the West eastward, or from the East
westward, must needs pass, and being magnanimous and liberal, and
zealous to approve himself such in act, did set on work cunning
artificers not a few, and cause one of the finest and largest and most
luxurious palaces that ever were seen, to be there builded and
furnished in the goodliest manner with all things meet for the
reception and honourable entertainment of gentlemen. [
006
]
And so,
keeping a great array of excellent servants, he courteously and
hospitably did the honours of his house to whoso came and went: in
which laudable way of life he persevered, until not only the East, but
well-nigh all the West had heard his fame; [
007
]
which thus, what time
he was well-stricken in years, albeit not for that cause grown weary
of shewing courtesy, reached the ears of one Mitridanes, a young man
of a country not far distant. Who, knowing himself to be no less
wealthy than Nathan, grew envious of the renown that he had of his
good deeds, and resolved to obliterate, or at least to obscure it, by a
yet greater liberality. [
008
]
So he had built for himself a palace like that
of Nathan, of which he did the honours with a lavish courtesy that
none had ever equalled, to whoso came or went that way; and verily
in a short while he became famous enough.

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
009
]
Now it so befell that on a day when the young man was all alone
in the courtyard of the palace, there came in by one of the gates a
poor woman, who asked of him an alms, and had it; but, not content
therewith, came again to him by the second gate, and asked another
alms, and had it, and after the like sort did even unto the twelfth
time; but, she returning for the thirteenth time:
“
My good
woman,
”
quoth Mitridanes,
“
thou art not a little pertinacious in thy
begging:
”
howbeit he gave her an alms. [
010
]
Whereupon:
“
Ah!
the wondrous liberality of Nathan!
”
quoth the beldam:
“
thirty-two
gates are there to his palace, by every one of which I have entered,
and asking alms of him, was never--for aught he shewed--recognized,
or refused, and here, though I have entered as yet by but
thirteen gates, I am recognized and reprimanded.
”
And therewith
she departed, and returned no more. [
011
]
Mitridanes, who accounted
the mention of Nathan's fame an abatement of his own, was kindled
by her words with a frenzy of wrath, and began thus to commune
with himself: Alas! when shall I attain to the grandeur of
Nathan's liberality, to say nought of transcending it, as I would fain,
seeing that in the veriest trifles I cannot approach him? Of a surety
my labour is in vain, if I rid not the earth of him: which, since old
age relieves me not of him, I must forthwith do with mine own
hands. [
012
]
And in the flush of his despite up he started, and giving
none to know of his purpose, got to horse with a small company,
and after three days arrived at the place where Nathan abode; and
having enjoined his comrades to make as if they were none of his,
and knew him not, and to go quarter themselves as best they might
until they had his further orders, he, being thus alone, towards
evening came upon Nathan, also alone, at no great distance from
his splendid palace. Nathan was recreating himself by a walk, and
was very simply clad; so that Mitridanes, knowing him not, asked
him if he could shew him where Nathan dwelt. [
013
]
“
My son,
”
replied
Nathan gladsomely,
“
that can none in these parts better than I;
wherefore, so it please thee, I will bring thee thither.
”
[
014
]
The young
man replied that 'twould be mighty agreeable to him, but that, if so
it might be, he had a mind to be neither known nor seen by Nathan.
“
And herein also,
”
returned Nathan,
“
since 'tis thy pleasure, I will
gratify thee.
”
[
015
]
Whereupon Mitridanes dismounted, and with Nathan,
who soon engaged him in delightsome discourse, walked to the
goodly palace. Arrived there Nathan caused one of his servants
take the young man's horse, and drawing close to him, bade him
in a whisper to see to it without delay that none in the house should
tell the young man that he was Nathan: and so 'twas done.

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
016
]
Being come into the palace, Nathan quartered Mitridanes in a
most goodly chamber, where none saw him but those whom he had
appointed to wait upon him; and he himself kept him company,
doing him all possible honour. [
017
]
Of whom Mitridanes, albeit he
reverenced him as a father, yet, being thus with him, forbore not to
ask who he was. Whereto Nathan made answer:
“
I am a petty
servant of Nathan: old as I am, I have been with him since my
childhood, and never has he advanced me to higher office than this
wherein thou seest me: wherefore, howsoever other folk may praise
him, little cause have I to do so.
”
[
018
]
Which words afforded Mitridanes
some hope of carrying his wicked purpose into effect with more of
plan and less of risk than had otherwise been possible. By and by
Nathan very courteously asked him who he was, and what business
brought him thither; offering him such counsel and aid as he might
be able to afford him. [
019
]
Mitridanes hesitated a while to reply: but
at last he resolved to trust him, and when with no little circumlocution
he had demanded of him fidelity, counsel and aid, he fully
discovered to him who he was, and the purpose and motive of his
coming thither. [
020
]
Now, albeit to hear Mitridanes thus unfold his
norrid design caused Nathan no small inward commotion, yet 'twas
not long before courageously and composedly he thus made answer:
“
Noble was thy father, Mitridanes, and thou art minded to shew
thyself not unworthy of him by this lofty emprise of thine, to wit,
of being liberal to all comers: and for that thou art envious of
Nathan's merit I greatly commend thee; for were many envious
for a like cause, the world, from being a most wretched, would soon
become a happy place. [
021
]
Doubt not that I shall keep secret the
design which thou hast confided to me, for the furtherance whereof
'tis good advice rather than substantial aid that I have to offer thee.
Which advice is this. [
022
]
Hence, perhaps half a mile off, thou mayst
see a copse, in which almost every morning Nathan is wont to walk,
taking his pleasure, for quite a long while: 'twill be an easy matter
for thee to find him there, and deal with him as thou mayst be
minded. [
023
]
Now, shouldst thou slay him, thou wilt get thee home with
less risk of let, if thou take not the path by which thou camest
hither, but that which thou seest issue from the copse on the left,
for, though 'tis somewhat more rough, it leads more directly to thy
house, and will be safer for thee.
”

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
024
]
Possessed of this information, Mitridanes, when Nathan had left
him, privily apprised his comrades, who were likewise lodged in the
palace, of the place where they were to await him on the ensuing
day; which being come, Nathan, inflexibly determined to act in all
respects according to the advice which he had given Mitridanes,
hied him forth to the copse unattended, to meet his death. [
025
]
Mitridanes,
being risen, took his bow and sword, for other arms he had
none with him, mounted his horse, and rode to the copse, through
which, while he was yet some way off, he saw Nathan passing, quite
alone. And being minded, before he fell upon him, to see his face
and hear the sound of his voice, as, riding at a smart pace, he came
up with him, he laid hold of him by his head-gear, exclaiming:
“
Greybeard, thou art a dead man.
”
[
026
]
Whereto Nathan answered
nought but:
“
Then 'tis but my desert.
”
[
027
]
But Mitridanes, hearing
the voice, and scanning the face, forthwith knew him for the same
man that had welcomed him heartily, consorted with him familiarly,
and counselled him faithfully; whereby his wrath presently subsided,
and gave place to shame. Wherefore, casting away the sword that
he held drawn in act to strike, he sprang from his horse, and weeping,
threw himself at Nathan's feet, saying: [
028
]
“
Your liberality, dearest
father, I acknowledge to be beyond all question, seeing with what
craft you did plot your coming hither to yield me your life, for
which, by mine own avowal, you knew that I, albeit cause I had
none, did thirst. But God, more regardful of my duty than I
myself, has now, in this moment of supreme stress, opened the eyes
of my mind, that wretched envy had fast sealed. [
029
]
The prompter
was your compliance, the greater is the debt of penitence that I owe
you for my fault; wherefore wreak even such vengeance upon me
as you may deem answerable to my transgression.
”
[
030
]
But Nathan
raised Mitridanes to his feet, and tenderly embraced him, saying:
“
My son, thy enterprise, howsoever thou mayst denote it, whether
evil or otherwise, was not such that thou shouldst crave, or I give,
pardon thereof; for 'twas not in malice but in that thou wouldst
fain have been reputed better than I that thou ensuedst it. [
031
]
Doubt
then no more of me; nay, rest assured that none that lives bears
thee such love as I, who know the loftiness of thy spirit, bent not
to heap up wealth, as do the caitiffs, but to dispense in bounty thine
accumulated store. [
032
]
Think it no shame that to enhance thy reputation
thou wouldst have slain me; nor deem that I marvel thereat.
To slay not one man, as thou wast minded, but countless multitudes,
to waste whole countries with fire, and to raze cities to the ground
has been well-nigh the sole art, by which the mightiest emperors and
the greatest kings have extended their dominions, and by consequence
their fame. Wherefore, if thou, to increase thy fame, wouldst fain
have slain me, 'twas nothing marvellous or strange, but wonted.
”

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
033
]
Whereto Mitridanes made answer, not to excuse his wicked
design, but to commend the seemly excuse found for it by Nathan,
whom at length he told how beyond measure he marvelled that
Nathan had not only been consenting to the enterprise, but had
aided him therein by his counsel. But Nathan answered: [
034
]
“
Liefer
had I, Mitridanes, that thou didst not marvel either at my consent
or at my counsel, for that, since I was my own master and of a mind
to that emprise whereon thou art also bent, never a soul came to my
house, but, so far as in me lay, I gave him all that he asked of me.
[
035
]
Thou camest, lusting for my life; and so, when I heard thee crave
it of me, I forthwith, that thou mightst not be the only guest to
depart hence ill content, resolved to give it thee; and to that end I
gave thee such counsel as I deemed would serve thee both to the
taking of my life and the preservation of thine own. Wherefore
yet again I bid thee, nay, I entreat thee, if so thou art minded, to
take it for thy satisfaction: I know not how I could better bestow
it. [
036
]
I have had the use of it now for some eighty years, and
pleasure and solace thereof; and I know that, by the course of
Nature and the common lot of man and all things mundane, it can
continue to be mine for but a little while; and so I deem that 'twere
much better to bestow it, as I have ever bestowed and dispensed my
wealth, than to keep it, until, against my will, it be reft from me by
Nature. [
037
]
'Twere but a trifle, though 'twere a hundred years: how
insignificant, then, the six or eight years that are all I have to give!
Take it, then, if thou hadst lief, take it, I pray thee; for, long as
I have lived here, none have I found but thee to desire it; nor know
I when I may find another, if thou take it not, to demand it of me.
[
038
]
And if, peradventure, I should find one such, yet I know that the
longer I keep it, the less its worth will be; wherefore, ere it be thus
cheapened, take it, I implore thee.
”

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
039
]
Sore shame-stricken, Mitridanes made answer:
“
Now God
forefend that I should so much as harbour, as but now I did, such a
thought, not to say do such a deed, as to wrest from you a thing
so precious as your life, the years whereof, so far from abridging, I
would gladly supplement with mine own.
”
[
040
]
“
So then,
”
rejoined
Nathan promptly,
“
thou wouldst, if thou couldst, add thy years to
mine, and cause me to serve thee as I never yet served any man, to
wit, to take from thee that which is thine, I that never took aught
from a soul!
”
[
041
]
“
Ay, that would I,
”
returned Mitridanes.
[
042
]
“
Then,
”
quoth Nathan,
“
do as I shall bid thee. Thou art young: tarry
here in my house, and call thyself Nathan; and I will get me to
thy house, and ever call myself Mitridanes.
”
[
043
]
Whereto Mitridanes
made answer:
“
Were I but able to discharge this trust, as you
have been and are, scarce would I hesitate to accept your offer; but,
as too sure am I that aught that I might do would but serve to
lower Nathan's fame, and I am not minded to mar that in another
which I cannot mend in myself, accept it I will not.
”

[Voice:
filostrato
]

[
044
]
After which and the like interchange of delectable discourse,
Nathan and Mitridanes, by Nathan's desire, returned to the palace;
where Nathan for some days honourably entreated Mitridanes, and
by his sage counsel confirmed and encouraged him in his high and
noble resolve; after which, Mitridanes, being minded to return
home with his company, took his leave of Nathan, fully persuaded
that 'twas not possible to surpass him in liberality.